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Random Quote: A boat is the world's best depreciating asset!
My experiences with Armstrong have been good. Really can't comment on Maxweld due to lack of personal experience. So far I have had 5 of their mono hulls. As a certifiable boataholic, maybe an Armstrong Cat will be in my future. Merry Christmas.
__________________ 29 alloy Armstrong Pilothouse. Single F350. F9.9 Kicker
I have seen an Armstorng Cat up close and personal and it is SWEET. It is owned by an outfit in Gustavus, AK called Ripple Cove Charters (they have a web site). It is so nice it's ridiculous. I take his word for the ride quality as being great b/c he is a river pilot in Louisiana and I know him personally.
I have seen and ridden on several Maxweld monohulls (and I understand they are mostly on cats now) they are built like a brick skiffhouse! No worrying about bumping into the dock with that thing! Two of them are owned by Black Rock Charters and I know those guys personally as well.
I haven't seen a Maxweld cat but based on their other hulls I wouldn't worry about the construction.
I can tell you cats are a different animal. Better ride them both before you decide. I would not be concerned about the construction of either.
Maxweld cats are typically pretty big. I owned the only one I've ever seen under 30'.
Damn fine boat. Mine was 27' with a pair of 225 Honda's. I know the Armstrongs too. The fit & finish on the Maxwelds is a bit better than the Armstrongs and they are painted throughout. Interiors are nicer too IMO. Armstrong delivery might be a bit better because its a bigger shop and they are bare aluminum which is better if you are rough on a boat but they develop a crusty look after a few years.
I sold mine to some guys down in the SanFran Bay area.
You need to sea trial both. The maxweld is a constant deadrise design. The armstrogs are not. You may find that the Armstrongs do not ride as well as the Maxweld. Also, Andy at Maxweld is very accessible. You will also find the finish of the Maxweld a level above the others. I spec a 28 Maxweld and a 28 Armstrong. I did a plethora of research. I would buy the Maxweld over the Armstrong. Also, Andy is a little (allot) easier to deal with.
__________________ "a doughnut is only one step above a rent rod"
Both Andy at Armstrong and John Sr. at Armstrong have been very responsive to all of my questions at this point.
I'm going to go outthere and seatrial both boats,a lot of the things are very similar,lenght,beam,power,layout and price so it will come down to ride and fit
I think both companies are trying to comeout with boats under 30' that have a true walkaround design that will appeal to fisherman and guys in the colder climates such as myself (NJ)
I've tried to talk to all the fiberglass builders (renaissance,world Cat, glacier bay) to comeout with such a disign for the 30' and under
Did you sea trial both boats? Which one did you buy?
msilva4
I can't speak for Maxweld due to only looking over one boat, and it would be mostly conversation on my part, but I have found everyone at Armstrong very easy to get along with while I have been doing business with them, going over specs, chasing paperwork etc.
Never owned a cat, but I'm on my fifth Armstrong mono, and drove one of their cats one time a few weeks ago.. I have to say driving the cat was a fun experience, but the water was pretty smooth that day, and the cat was over 30 feet, and a super performer. No way for me to offer an intelligent or informed critique, but I enjoyed the ride.
I prefer an unpainted aluminum hull, because to me the toughness of aluminum, and the lack of care and maintenance required goes in the "w" column when doing the w-l comparison between aluminum and fiberglass. I also prefer that the welds on the hull not be ground and faired out for a nice paint job. I want to see the welds. Armstrong's welds take a back seat to none around the northwest. If a person wanted to keep the hull and cabin sides clean looking I suppose an occasional application of the Nyalac would do the job. My boats spend most of their time in fresh water, so oxidizing isn't much of an issue. They still look new after 2 years.
Only about 4 weeks to the start of the Seattle show. Hopefully there will be plenty of aluminum boats for you to see, and at least a couple of aluminum cats.
__________________ 29 alloy Armstrong Pilothouse. Single F350. F9.9 Kicker
If I was smart enough to know how to post post a picture, I would. If someone will give me an email, I'll send it. It is in the Northwest Boat Trader, and probably Boattrader online. Someday I also hope to be smart enough to spell Nyalac.
[quote]ruggit - 12/26/2007 4:02 PM If I was smart enough to know how to post post a picture, I would. If someone will give me an email, I'll send it. It is in the Northwest Boat Trader, and probably Boattrader online. Someday I also hope to be smart enough to spell Nyalac. Try this: http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/4/6/90927546.htm[/QUOTE]
nice boat!
__________________ VOLVO OCEAN RACE team JUST-IN-TIME
switchbait.com
Did you sea trial both boats? Which one did you buy? """"""
Yes, I have ridden on both and Armstrong and a Maxweld Cat. Didnt buy either, yet. Got involved in a custome boat idea, then got frustrated . I liked the layout and "look" of the Armstrong. I really like their Monos as well. I just like the ride and finish of the Maxweld better. +, after prelim drawings and specs etc, it seemed that Andy was more my kinda guy and everything stayed the same, whereas that was not the case with Armstrong. I was speccing26- 28 foot PH designs for OB power. (suzu 175) I found the ride to be substantially different between the two, And a ride on a large Armstrong was less impressive, but that was unimportant as I wasnt looking at 36 footers.
__________________ "a doughnut is only one step above a rent rod"
Maxweld or Armstrong aluminum catamarans 
